Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a unit, a to-be-engaged member, a pull-in member that can pull in the to-be-engaged member, and a push-out member that pushes out the unit. When the unit is inserted in a first direction, the pull-in member engages with the to-be-engaged member and pulls in the to-be-engaged member so that the unit is displaced in the first direction. When the unit undergoes an external force in the first direction with the pull-in member engaged with the to-be-engaged member, one of the to-be-engaged member and the pull-in member is displaced in the first direction with respect to the main body by the external force so that the pull-in member and the to-be-engaged member are disengaged, and the unit is pushed out in a second direction by the push-out member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a main body;   a unit configured to be inserted into the main body in a first direction and pulled out from the main body in a second direction opposite to the first direction;   a to-be-engaged member;   a pull-in member configured to engage with the to-be-engaged member and pull in the to-be-engaged member; and   a push-out member configured to push out the unit in the second direction,   wherein one of the to-be-engaged member and the pull-in member is disposed on the main body,   wherein the other of the to-be-engaged member and the pull-in member is disposed on the unit,   wherein the pull-in member is configured to, in a case where the unit is inserted into the main body in the first direction, engage with the to-be-engaged member and pull in the to-be-engaged member so that the unit is displaced in the first direction, and   wherein in a case where the unit undergoes an external force in the first direction with the pull-in member engaged with the to-be-engaged member, the other of the to-be-engaged member and the pull-in member is displaced in the first direction with respect to the main body by the external force so that the pull-in member and the to-be-engaged member are disengaged, and the unit is pushed out in the second direction by the push-out member.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pull-in member is configured to move between a standby position where the pull-in member engages with the to-be-engaged member and a release position where the pull-in member disengages from the to-be-engaged member. 
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a guide member configured to guide movement of the to-be-engaged member,
 wherein the guide member forms movement paths of the to-be-engaged member, the movement paths including a first path, a second path, and a third path connecting the first and second paths,   wherein the first path includes a movement path of the to-be-engaged member through which the pull-in member engaged with the to-be-engaged member moves from the standby position to the release position, and   wherein the second path includes a path through which the to-be-engaged member moves in a case where the unit is pushed out in the second direction by the push-out member.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the third path is located between the first path and the second path in a direction orthogonal to both the first direction and a vertical direction. 
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the guide member forms a fourth path that connects the first path and the second path, and   wherein the fourth path is located upstream of the third path in a pull-in direction in which the pull-in member pulls in the unit.   
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a restriction member,
 wherein the restriction member is configured to, in a case where the pull-in member reaches the release position, come into contact with the pull-in member to restrict movement of the pull-in member in a pull-in direction.   
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising a moving member,
 wherein the moving member is configured to, in a case where the unit is moved in the first direction, come into contact with the pull-in member and move the pull-in member from the release position to the standby position.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the moving member is configured to, in a case where the pull-in member is at the release position and the unit is inserted in the first position, come into contact with the pull-in member and move the pull-in member to the standby position, and   wherein the to-be-engaged member is configured to, in a case where the unit is further inserted in the first direction, be engaged with the pull-in member at the standby position.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein in a case where the to-be-engaged member and the pull-in member are engaged, inserting the unit in the first direction disengages the to-be-engaged member and the pull-in member, and   wherein the moving member is configured to, in a case where the unit is further moved in the first direction, come into contact with the pull-in member and move the pull-in member to the standby position.   
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a damper member,
 wherein the damper member is configured to, as the pull-in member pulls in the to-be-engaged member, reduce moving speed of the unit in the first direction.   
     
     
         11 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the push-out member is an elastic member. 
     
     
         12 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the unit is an accommodation unit configured to accommodate a recording material. 
     
     
         13 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the unit is a fixing unit configured to fix a toner image formed on a recording material or a toner accommodation unit configured to accommodate toner. 
     
     
         14 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic member,
 wherein the elastic member is configured to bias the pull-in member in a direction where the pull-in member pulls in the to-be-engaged member.   
     
     
         15 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein in a case where the pull-in member is at the release position and engaged with the to-be-engaged member and the unit is moved in the second direction, the pull-in member moves to the standby position, and   wherein in a case where the unit is further moved in the second direction, the pull-in member and the to-be-engaged member are disengaged.   
     
     
         16 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the to-be-engaged member is disposed on the unit and the pull-in member is disposed on the main body. 
     
     
         17 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the to-be-engaged member is disposed on the main body and the pull-in member is disposed on the unit.